Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program:
Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program:
The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) is a voluntary program designed to accelerate adoption of on-farm conservation practices that protect Minnesota’s lakes and rivers. Producers who implement and maintain approved farm management practices will be certified and in turn assured that their operation meets the state’s water quality goals and standards for a period of 10 years.
The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) is a voluntary program designed to accelerate adoption of on-farm conservation practices that protect Minnesota’s lakes and rivers. Producers who implement and maintain approved farm management practices will be certified and in turn assured that their operation meets the state’s water quality goals and standards for a period of 10 years.
The program is the product of a state-federal partnership that includes the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The program is the product of a state-federal partnership that includes the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on January 17, 2012, by Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. This document formalizes the state-federal partnership and confirms the joint commitment to developing and implementing the program. The Memorandum of Understanding requested the creation of an advisory committee to make recommendations about the program. This committee is made up of a diverse group of stakeholders that made recommendations through a series of whitepapers. These recommendations were the basis for the program's legislation (MN Statute 17.9891) which was passed in 2013.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on January 17, 2012, by Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. This document formalizes the state-federal partnership and confirms the joint commitment to developing and implementing the program. The Memorandum of Understanding requested the creation of an advisory committee to make recommendations about the program. This committee is made up of a diverse group of stakeholders that made recommendations through a series of whitepapers. These recommendations were the basis for the program's legislation (MN Statute 17.9891) which was passed in 2013.
This new voluntary program is designed to accelerate adoption of on-farm practices that protect Minnesota’s lakes and rivers. Producers who implement and maintain approved management practices will be certified and in turn obtain "regulatory certainty" for a period of 10 years. Under the program, a farmer demonstrating the implementation of best management practices to protect water quality receives a 10-year certification and will be regarded as meeting any new targeted reductions and water quality regulations that occur in those 10 years.
This new voluntary program is designed to accelerate adoption of on-farm practices that protect Minnesota’s lakes and rivers. Producers who implement and maintain approved management practices will be certified and in turn obtain "regulatory certainty" for a period of 10 years. Under the program, a farmer demonstrating the implementation of best management practices to protect water quality receives a 10-year certification and will be regarded as meeting any new targeted reductions and water quality regulations that occur in those 10 years.
The MDA is piloting this program in four watersheds across the state to improve the program with local input. Pilot areas are located in four distinct regions of the state; these areas represent a diversity of Minnesota’s agricultural landscapes and cropping systems, differences in water resource concerns and also leverage the strength of existing local partnerships. Local advisory committees have been established in each of the pilot areas to ensure this program meets the needs of farmers in different geographic regions.
The MDA is piloting this program in four watersheds across the state to improve the program with local input. Pilot areas are located in four distinct regions of the state; these areas represent a diversity of Minnesota’s agricultural landscapes and cropping systems, differences in water resource concerns and also leverage the strength of existing local partnerships. Local advisory committees have been established in each of the pilot areas to ensure this program meets the needs of farmers in different geographic regions.
Local technical staff members are now working with farmers to assess their operations for certification. These assessments are conducted with an assessment tool that is customized for this program. This tool evaluates individual farm fields in the following categories: field characteristics, nutrient management, tillage management, pest management, irrigation and tile drainage management, and conservation practices. This provides valuable agronomic information to farmers; it also supports focused conversation and is a critical educational tool.
Local technical staff members are now working with farmers to assess their operations for certification. These assessments are conducted with an assessment tool that is customized for this program. This tool evaluates individual farm fields in the following categories: field characteristics, nutrient management, tillage management, pest management, irrigation and tile drainage management, and conservation practices. This provides valuable agronomic information to farmers; it also supports focused conversation and is a critical educational tool.